We all know how hard it is to get your message outside of your usual circles. And how valuable it is, too. I’m so impressed seeing this from our member in Slovenia: A cover story, 3-page interview in a supplement to one of the daily newspapers. The interview is with Mateja de Reya, director of…
Series of articles which focus on some statistic and other numbers describing situation of people with intellectual disabilities and families. Started in February 2024. Newest first. 70 This year, we are joining Enable Scotland in celebrating 70 years of their work for an equal society where everyone has the right to live, work and participate…
Inclusion Europe year-end summary. Dear friends, colleagues. I want to thank each and every one of you for all your work supporting full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. 2023 saw a lot of things we can proudly share in a year-end summary. And we wouldn’t be here without the dedication, hard work,…
Today (14 December 2023) in Brussels, we’ll be having a little celebration of Inclusion Europe anniversary. We are 35 this year. I’m looking forward to meet some of the people who contribute to our work towards full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It’s always a pleasure. Now, you’d probably…
New report shows for the first time what the “European way of life” means for 20 million people with intellectual disabilities and their families. This new report shows information about 29 countries, 23 of them in the EU. Key findings: In 26 countries, a person’s legal capacity can be removed, and they cannot decide about…
Every person leaving an institution needs support in establishing a new life, and in overcoming the harm and trauma caused by institutionalisation. Presentation of principles and some examples of supporting people with intellectual disabilities to live independently and to be included. With particular focus on support for people leaving “care” institutions. I made this presentation…
Many politicians, public authorities, and disability service providers act as if they don’t know what the law says about inclusion of people with disabilities.As if they never heard of good disability support. They keep forcing people into “care” institutions, even building new ones.They delay the necessary de-segregation with talk about “need for evidence”, or about…
It is not acceptable for funders to continue paying for segregation of people with intellectual disabilities. All funders need to respect the rights of people with disabilities.They need to listen to what people with disabilities are saying about how the money should be used. Funders are, for example: Countries (including national, regional, local public budgets);…
Just notes and archives of some books I read and find interesting and relevant. “An intimate history of a divided land.” Surprising, revealing, and ultimately optimistic despite everything read. My book of 2023. “Many peoples, faiths, languages lived together, in a loose symbiosis, strong enough to last for centuries. It was not always peaceful or…
Gerard Quinn, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, published a report on transformation of services for people with disabilities. I tried to summarise. (Written for Inclusion Europe.) The report calls for support services to implement these changes: Services based on personhood, focused on supporting personal development and inclusion in the community. Policy…
